🎃 5 Scary NCLEX Mistakes That Could Cost You Your License (And How to Avoid Them)
Don’t miss these scary mistakes!
The Mistakes That Linger (Even After Test Day)
There are some NCLEX mistakes that are just… annoying.
Then there are the ones that haunt you.
Not because you didn’t know the answer.
But because you did—and still got it wrong.
I had a student once who missed passing the NCLEX by 3 questions. She told me, “I knew the answer. I just rushed it.” That one mistake still sits with her—not because she wasn’t prepared, but because she underestimated the pressure.
This post isn’t here to scare you. It’s here to make sure the “I never thought I’d mess that up” moments don’t happen to you.
Here are 5 scary mistakes smart students make on the NCLEX—and how to avoid every single one of them.
Let’s dive in!
😬 Mistake #1: Choosing the Right Answer… Not the Best One
The NCLEX doesn’t just want the “right” answer—it wants the most right answer.
That’s where people get caught.
“But that answer is true…”
“My professor said that once in class…”
“That worked in clinical…”
And that’s the trap: more than one answer can be right. But only one is best for this patient, in this moment, under this set of symptoms.
What to do:
Always ask: Which answer is safest, most complete, and most timely?
Think like a nurse—not just a student trying to get it “technically correct.”
Remember: slow down, and read the questions carefully!
🧠 Mistake #2: Skimming the Question (And Missing the ‘Not’)
You read the whole question. You think you’re focused. But then…
You miss a “not”
You skip over “most important”
You miss a time frame like “24 hours ago” vs. “now”
This is one of the most common test-day regrets.
Student quote:
“I didn’t misread it—I just read it the way I expected it to read.”
What to do:
Grab your whiteboard and write out all key words—not just in your head, on the board.
Break it down like this:
Who is my client? (What’s their age, condition, stability?)
Does that detail affect the answer?
What’s the condition or procedure? (Define it. What’s actually happening in the body?)
What does the question want? (Look closely at the very last sentence—it almost always tells you the real ask.)
When you slow your brain down to write, you train yourself to read with purpose, not assumption.
A new nurse reviewing and practicing her strategy for breaking down questions.
🧠 Mistake #3: Trusting Memory Over Strategy
You remember a fact. You grab the answer that matches.
But the NCLEX doesn’t just test what you remember—it tests what you do with it.
Example: You remember the symptoms of hypokalemia—but the question is really about what to monitor for post-treatment.
What to do:
Train yourself to slow down and ask: What’s this question really testing me on? Don’t just recall—interpret.
⚠️ Mistake #4: Rushing Through Prioritization
“I just picked the one that felt most urgent…”
This is the #1 mistake in prioritization: choosing what feels immediate, rather than what’s life-threatening.
Classic trap:
“Fever in an oncology patient” vs. “Confused elderly patient who fell”
— The second one feels more dramatic, but neutropenic fever? That’s a priority.
What to do:
Use the ABCs + Maslow + Safety filters. And PRACTICE. Prioritization isn’t about knowing facts—it’s about building pattern recognition.
Test anxiety can derail your exam prep.
😨 Mistake #5: Letting Anxiety Choose for You
This one’s sneaky. It doesn’t feel like a mistake in the moment—it just feels like overwhelm.
Your palms are sweaty
You can’t remember what you studied
You second-guess the one answer you know is right
You click through just to make it end faster
This is the nervous system taking over. And it leads to split-second decisions that can tank an otherwise solid test.
What to do:
Create test-day rituals. Use breathwork, affirmations, or even a physical anchor (like touching your chest or desk) to calm your nervous system.
The goal isn’t to be anxiety-free—it’s to not let anxiety make your decisions for you.
✅ How to Haunt-Proof Your NCLEX Strategy
These mistakes are common, but they’re also avoidable—if you know what to look for.
Want to go deeper? Download the free:
🧠 “NCLEX Mistake-Proofing Checklist”
A one-page printable of the 5 mistakes, how to catch them, and what to practice this week.
💬 Now I’d love to hear from you: What’s One Mistake You’ve Made That You Won’t Repeat?
👉 Let’s name it. Normalize it. And move through it.
Leave a comment, share this with a study buddy, or come DM me on [Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn]—what’s one NCLEX trap you’ve fallen into before?
We’ve all been there. You’re not behind. You’re getting better.
You CAN do this!
💬 Join the Conversation:
Comment below!
Share your stories in the comments or reach out—I’d love to hear from you.
What’s One Mistake You’ve Made That You Won’t Repeat?
Any NCLEX tips or stories you'd like to share with your fellow new nurses?
Follow and Like!
💙If you are not on our email list, click the contact link here.
💙Don’t forget to follow me on my Instagram account @nclex_one_on_one_tutoring and share it with your colleagues!
Want Mentorship?
Nurse Mentor
If you’re a new nurse (or an experienced one) who wants help building communication skills, I’m here to support you.
Let’s imagine a nursing culture where we handle conflict with courage, professionalism, and care—not fear or silence.
Let’s build that together.
